We are often asked, "What is different about your chicken? How do you raise it differently?"
To be sure, we use quite a different production system than what is used to produce your average bird in the grocery store. Our system is pasture-based, meaning that the birds get all the fresh air, greens, soil and insects they desire in a safe, healthy environment.
We buy day-old chicks direct from the hatchery, place them in a warm, safe environment for 3-4 weeks while they grow appropriate feathers for outside living. We give them clean water and feed them our own feed recipe. THey do not receive any antibiotics, growth hormones or arsenic.
We use exclusively the Cornish Roaster breed of chicken. We find these to be much more hearty than the smaller, faster growing Cornish Cross birds. They have simply grown better for us.
At 3-4 weeks of age, we move the chicks outside, into floorless pens measuring 10' x 10' x 2' high. These pens protect the birds from predators and provide them the opportunity to do what chickens naturally do, scratch for bugs, worms and soil.
Inside the pens, the birds are given fresh water daily, and we feed our own feed recipe consisting of corn, soybeans, oats and wheat.
Each day, the pens are moved to fresh pasture, with clover and grass to supplement thier diet. With unlimited access to sunshine, fresh air, water and good food, these birds thrive. At approximately 8 weeks of age, they are ready to begin processing.
On processing day, we move the birds to our processing area, making every effort to keep the them calm and comfortable. Death comes calmly and quickly and the bird is processed into a water bath.
Many of our customers come to the farm on processing day to pick up their chicken which they have pre-ordered. Others purchase frozen birds later. Either way, your family is assured the highest quality, best tasting poultry meat you've ever tasted! |
Our chicken will generally average from 4-7 lbs each. A 7 lb. chicken is a large chicken which will easily feed a family of 4 with leftovers. The smaller 4 pounders are perfect for a dinner meal.
**Please note, it is very hard to tell what a bird will weigh dressed out when it has all its feathers! We will make every attempt to accomodate your sizing request, but cannot guarentee we will have an appropriate number of birds ready all at a specific size.
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"If I didn't start painting, I would have raised chickens." Grandma Moses (1860-1961)
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